Rotary engine



(No Model.)

G. ELRIGK. ROTARY ENGINE.

Patented June 7, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT Grrrcn.

GEORGE ELRICK, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 476,451, dated June '7,1892. Application filed September 14, 1891. Serial No. 405,629. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ELRICK, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Joliet, in the county of Will and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RotaryEugin es, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings and the letters of referencethereon, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is acentral vertical cross-section. Fig. 2 isa face view of one of thering-sections, having a part broken away to show the steamport within.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the engine, and Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of a section of a pipe from which to form one of the steam-ports.

This invention relates to certain improvements in rotary steam-engines,which improvements are fully set forth and explained in the followingspecification and claims.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a series of fiat rings arrangedconcentrically with relation to each other and placed on the shaft D,having hollow journals for the inlet and exhaust ports. These ringsA areshown as being placed one within the other in the form shown in Figs. 1and 3, the center ring being the widest and the outer one being thenarrowest, the intermediate rings being graduated in size from the innerone to the outer one, so that the sides of the engine appear in oitsetssomething like stairs. Each ring is provided with a steam-port P, whichenters at one side and passes in a spiral form one or more times aroundwithin the body of the ring concentrically with its circumference and exhausts at the opposite side of the ring about opposite where it enters.These ports are largest in the inner ring and gradually decrease insize, so that those in the outer ring are the smallest.

F and II are pipes for alternately connecting the port of one ring withthat of the next adjacent ring, so as to form a continuous port throughall the rings from its inlet to its exhaust. Steam is admitted throughpipe E from the hollow journal of shaft D to the port P of the outer oneof the rings A, and after passing through its spiral port passes throughpipe H to the port of the next adjacent ring,

and from its port through pipe F to the port of the next adjacent ring,and so on through the ports of each ring consecutively to theexhaust-pipe J, which passes out through the opposite hollow journal ofthe shaft D. The inlet-pipe E and exhaust-pipe J are intended tobefitted with steam-tight joints, so they may turn and not leak steam.

The ports P are constructed so as to have formed in them at shortregular intervals throughout their length the chambers S, larger indiameter than the ports, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. These chambers Sform a resistance to the steam-blast as it passes through the ports, andthus cause the steam to rotate the engine. Vere the ports smooth and ofthe same diameter throughout their length the steam would simply blowthrough them and not move the engine. These chambers may be any size orform that may be found best in practical use.

The rings A are intended to be made of cast metal and cored to form thespiral ports and chambers; but the said ports and chambers may be firstformed of metal pipe or tubing such as is shown in Fig. 4 and then bentin a spiral form and have the ring cast around it and left within thering, so as to save cleaning out the ports when cast with a core; also,instead of building up the engine of a succession of concentric rings itmay be cast all in one solid piece with the ports therein, as shown. Theports should pass at least once around in a ring in a spiral form, butmay pass around any number or" times desired it for any reason that isfound advantageous. The journals of the shaft D rest in suitable boxes Band may extend beyond the boxes, so as to carry a band-wheel or gear forpropelling machinery. The ports P should gradually increase in size fromthe inlet to the exhaust on account of the condensation of the steam. Toreverse the engine, the steam should enter at the exhaust and passthrough the engine in the opposite direction.

If desired,the ports of one ring maybe connected with the ports of anadjacent ring by any other means than by the pipes F and H,

and the rings A may all be of the same face width, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what ters Patent, is as follows, towit: tervals throughout their length and increasl. In a rotary engine,the combination of the ing in dianieterfrom the inlet to the exhaust,concentric rings A, each provided with a spiral and having" its spiralform extend alternately I5 5 port P, having the chambers S, the port ofin either direction, substantially as and for each ring being connectedwith the port of an the purpose set forth.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letwith the chambers S, disposedat regular inadjacent ring, substantially as and for the purpose setforth. GEORGE ELRICK.

2. The rotary steam-engine shown and de- Witnesses: I0 scribed,consistingof the body portion A, hav- THOs. H. HUTCHINS,

ing the connected spiral ports P, provided T. M. FOLEY.

